Alabama’s Healthy Food Financing Act

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Alabama is known as a food desert, an area in need of healthy food access.

The Food Trust and VOICES for Alabama’s Children released a mapping report earlier this year, showing a need for healthy food options in urban and rural communities. The report revealed that over 1.8 million Alabamians, with nearly half of a million being children, had limited access to fresh, healthy food options. Recently this month, a local news article showed Governor Bentley following through with the push for healthier retail options by signing the Healthy Food Financing Act.  By signing this act the Bentley stated that he hopes to improve the health of Alabama’s overall population. Although Latino’s are not a large part of Alabama, the healthier access to foods will directly affect their access to having healthier options as well.

The bill will provide a statewide revolving loan fund program that gives incentives to grocers and other fresh food retailers to develop, renovate or expand in communities with limited access to healthier food options. Although funding has not yet been approved for the bill, budget discussions may happen in later this summer.

To see how other southern states are working towards laws and access to healthy foods, read more here.

UPDATE January 2016: Alabama Implements Healthy Food Financing Programs http://bit.ly/1KuCe4j